tside. The only sound was the rhythmic thwack-hiss o

gerator console between the seats. H

it out

e it was lined with sandpaper. She was dehydrated

," Ambro

idn't

aned over and shoved the bottle into her hand. Hi

ad burned her with a cigarette. Her hand spasmed, and the heavy

ed his hand back slowl

me," he stated. It

ttle. Her hands were shaking. "No.

t, but she forced herself to take small, measured swallow

to talk a mile a minute, who used to hang off his a

observed, his tone neutral, probin

ed on the water sloshing inside. She gave a tiny, almost imperceptible shake of her head, as if

sarcastic retort. It was a void. An absence of i

en up slightly when she drank. There was a mark there. A da

d slightly. "Let

abric. "Kaleigh is probably waiting for you. You shouldn'

She was deflecting. And she was ri

of a sudden," he said, his

the seat and closed her eyes. "I'm

. They were turning i

The main house loomed ahead, a Georgian monster of brick and glass, blazing

lided to a stop u

. Through the rain-stre

. Her fath

framed by the warm glow of the en

arisa's door. The co

a deep brea

ot hit the pavement, her knee buckled. Th

and come around faster than she expected.

you," he

tinct. She shoved him

oed under the

, his hands raised in surren

. She looked at him, her eyes wide with a feral kind of panic.

ghtened h

voice dropping to a whispe

ng her swollen foot. Ambrose stood in the rain, wat

f security: Get me her file from